Tabitha – Natural Scienceshttps://studentblogs.le.ac.uk/interdisciplinary-science
University of Leicester Student BlogsTue, 04 Sep 2018 15:01:58 +0000en-UShourly15 Top Tips for Freshershttps://studentblogs.le.ac.uk/interdisciplinary-science/2018/09/04/5-top-tips-for-freshers/
Tue, 04 Sep 2018 15:01:58 +0000https://studentblogs.le.ac.uk/interdisciplinary-science/?p=928Hey, congratulations! Your A-Levels are over and you’ve made it – you’re going to uni. Seeing as you’ve chosen to come to Leicester, you’ve obviously got good common sense (and impeccable taste in higher education providers). However, I thought it would still be beneficial for me to compile a short list of five hints and tips to help you prepare for the first few weeks of term.

DON’T RUSH OUT TO BUY TEXTBOOKS. There’s actually very little need for you to buy brand spanking new copies of all the books on your reading list. Trust me. They’re extortionately expensive and chances are you’ll be able to get them for free. If they’re set reading, you should be able to find copies in the university library. If they’re not there (or there aren’t enough copies to go around), the lovely librarians will be able to order more in through the ‘More Books’ scheme. All you need to do is ask at the front desk, and they’ll be able to sort you out.

JOIN CLUBS & SOCIETIES. Join them! Make sure you go to the Freshers’ Fair and sign up to anything and everything that tickles your fancy. Go to the taster sessions and bizarre themed nights and use them to decide which you want to carry on. You don’t need to continue with everything you sign up for, but it’s important to put yourself out there. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Plus, you know that all that extracurricular goodness will look great on your CV.

MAKE FRIENDS WITH UPPER YEARS. I know that they can seem kinda scary/intimidating/old, but I promise that it’s worth making the effort and chatting to them every so often. Not only have they already encountered the material you’re learning (so are often well-placed to give advice, help and support), but they’ve also lived in the city for longer so can let you know all about the best places to go.

ENJOY YOURSELF! I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true. At uni you have so much time indulge your interests – make the most of it! Do you have an all encompassing love of origami? There’s a society you can join. Stargazing? AstRoSoc have an observatory in the Student Village. Passionate about iced coffee? There are dozens of indie coffee shops (especially along Queens Road and in St Martin’s Square). Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can. Invited to a carnival-themed spoken word poetry night? A talk by an up-and-coming academic? Be it an art exhibition, a secret rave or an educational talk, be a ‘yes man’. You’ll meet so many cool people and have some awesome experiences that you wouldn’t have otherwise encountered.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. University is a massive leap into the unknown, and it’s okay to struggle. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, scared or anxious, try not to worry. Whether it’s academic or emotional, we’ve all been there at some point, and you’re not alone. You don’t need to suffer in silence – there are loads and loads of support services around uni that are there to listen and provide guidance. You can find a list of some of these services here: https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds

Finally, I encourage you all to explore as much as you can. You’re in a new city, surrounded by opportunities. Make the most of it!

]]>Top Tips: Packing for Unihttps://studentblogs.le.ac.uk/interdisciplinary-science/2018/08/08/top-tips-packing-for-uni/
Wed, 08 Aug 2018 19:45:54 +0000https://studentblogs.le.ac.uk/interdisciplinary-science/?p=922Packing your entire life up in boxes can be a daunting prospect, but I promise that it’s so, so much easier than it first appears. Well, maybe ‘easy’ is the wrong word, but it’s certainly do-able.

My first recommendation for a stress-free packing experience is to use a packing list. I personally like this one, though you can use any that seem appropriate (after all, you know more about what you personally need than I do). Now – and this is important – you must stick to it. With the exception of specific requirements (e.g. medications, your favourite stuffed bear, etc.), the people who write these things know what they’re doing. They’ve been there, done that and arrived at uni with a load of stuff they never even needed to remove from their suitcases. If it’s the only advice you take this summer, learn from their mistakes. Honestly, I promise that you won’t need the ice-cream maker, your walking boots or the entire kitchen sink. Really, you won’t. Take it from me – you won’t use 80% of the stuff you bring for your first semester.

However, that being said, one thing that the packing lists won’t necessarily include is fancy dress. Trust me, it’s useless but you need it. Throw in a onesie or two and that ancient Buzz Lightyear costume your mum got you for Halloween three years ago. Chances are, they’ll come in handy.

If you’re going into first year, chances are you’re going to be living in halls. If you’re catered, great! All you’ll need is a plate, bowl and some cutlery. If you’re self catered, also great! But you’re going to need to pack a little more stuff. As someone who was self-catered in my first year, I advise that you coordinate with your new flatmates as to who is bringing what. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t, but you do run the risk of having five different toasters clogging up your kitchen. In that vein, it’s also worth checking what’s actually provided for you – one of my acquaintances ended up cooking her pasta in a kettle for a week because she assumed that pans were provided (they weren’t).

Finally, don’t bring anything expensive or sentimental into your shared kitchen. I can guarantee that it will be borrowed by your messiest flatmate, it will be left (festering) on the side of the sink for three weeks, and it will end up ruined. In my opinion, it’s best to buy some cheaper kit, at least until you move out of halls.

No matter how well you follow your packing list and adhere to all my top-tips, it’s more than likely you’ll end up on a family mercy dash to a local B&Q to get a lamp, coat hangers and a cactus (I know I did). If/when this happens, there’s a great Homebase on Welford Road. You’re welcome.

Every February, universities across the UK participate in ‘Raising and Giving’ (RAG) Week, and here at Leicester we’ve been giving it all we’ve got. This year it also coincides with ‘Wellbeing Week’, making the campus a pretty positive place to be.

Despite not being very musical myself (I attempted to learn piano when I was thirteen, and was asked politely to stop), my housemates most definitely are. In fact, they’ve been busy planning the most daring charity events this week – a twelve-hour marathon performance for Music Against Myeloma.

So, at eight-thirty am on Monday morning, I found myself dutifully sat outside the Student’s Union listening to UoL’s Chorus Society singing Orinoco Flow by Enya. Although not my typical start to the day, it did get my morning off to a great start. After spending the next few hours plugging away at my dissertation in the library (I’ll definitely tell you much more about dissertations in the near future), I popped back out to supply the chilly musicians with coffee and applaud the rather damp orchestra. With their links to the Philharmonia Orchestra (based just down the road at De Montfort Hall), it’s safe to say that the UoL Orchestra is one of the best student orchestras in the country. Who would pass up a chance to see them performing for free?

On the topic of cheap tickets, did you know that UoL students can get into all of the Philharmonia concerts for only £5? Seeing as they’re usually around £30-£60 a pop, it’s definitely worth going at least once before you graduate. You can book tickets here: https://www.philharmonia.co.uk/concerts

After lunch (and even more inclement weather) the event was moved into the SU to protect the instruments and technical equipment. This ended up being a great idea, as the open space in the SU Square complemented the Big Band’s bold and brassy sound perfectly. By the time the twelve hours was up, the event had managed to raise a whopping £384.45 for Myeloma UK, the only charity in the UK dealing exclusively with myeloma, a rare bone marrow cancer.

But the great work doesn’t stop there! The SU and student societies have got loads more stuff planned throughout the week, including an all-day cricket marathon, Clown School, a 24-hour Sponsored Run hosted by the Leicester Running Club, and a clothing donation station in Queens Hall.

Fancy joining in for a good cause? Click the link to find out what’s on when: